William McFetridge
Encyclopedia
William Lane McFetridge was an American
labor
leader and president of the Building Service Employees International Union (BSEIU), the precursor to the Service Employees International Union
, from 1940 to 1960.
railway line. McFetridge was a nephew of William Quesse
, the BSEIU's founding president. In time, attending night classes, he graduated from high school and earned a law degree.
As a young man, McFetridge was hired by his uncle as an investigator with the Flat Janitors Local 1 in Chicago. He was elected local president in 1923, and in 1927 was elected Third Vice President of BSEIU. He rose to First Vice President in 1930.
When BSEIU president Jerry Horan
died in April 1937, McFetridge was the most senior local union president and widely considered a front-runner for the presidency. But Thomas Burke, another Chicago local union president, had the backing of the Chicago mob
. McFetridge's candidacy threatened to split the union, as several BSEIU board members were aware of Burke's extensive and close ties to organized crime
. George Scalise, president of a small BSEIU local of window washers in New York City
and the international's representative on the East Coast
, emerged as a compromise candidate. Scalise's mob ties were strong but not as public, and he had the backing of New York City mobster Anthony Carfano
. Hesitant BSEIU executive board members elected Scalise after being intimidated and coerced by members of the Nitti gang
.
Once president, McFetridge instituted modern financial and record-keeping practices at the international union's headquarters. He also undertook a large-scale organizing program, expanding out of the union's traditional base in apartments and office buildings and into airports, nuclear power plants, hospitals, and schools. He created research, legislative affairs, and legal departments, and began publishing a union-wide newsletter. During his tenure, the BSEIU grew from 70,000 members to 275,000 members.
A long-time Democrat
, McFetridge became a Republican
in 1948 and supported Thomas E. Dewey's run for the presidency
. He later supported Dwight D. Eisenhower
for president in 1952
. Nevertheless, McFetridge was a very close friend of Chicago mayor Richard J. Daley
, and nominated him for mayor in 1954. McFetridge became one of the most important behind-the-scenes players in Chicago under Daley.
In 1950, McFetridge was elected a vice-president of the American Federation of Labor
(AFL). After the AFL and the Congress of Industrial Organizations
merged in 1955, McFetridge was elected a vice-president of the AFL-CIO
. Although a close ally of Teamsters
president Dave Beck
, he was also a strong advocate of strict financial practices and worked to cleanse AFL-CIO unions of labor racketeering.
. He returned to Local 1 and was elected the union's president. He continued to assert effective control over BSEIU from Local 1, however. He engaged in a long-running and vicious jurisdictional dispute with George Fairchild, president of BSEIU Local 4. McFetridge was a strong advocate of the Marina City
mixed-use development in Chicago, which he believed would provide numerous jobs for Local 1 members. McFetridge asked that BSEIU invest pension funds in the development, a plan which Fairchild and Sullivan opposed. Although he successfully won BSEIU backing for the Marina City development, McFetridge lost control of BSEIU to Sullivan. He retired as Local 1 president shortly thereafter. He maintained his position on the AFL-CIO Executive Council until 1965.
McFetridge died on March 15, 1969, at Michael Reese Hospital
in Chicago.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
labor
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
leader and president of the Building Service Employees International Union (BSEIU), the precursor to the Service Employees International Union
Service Employees International Union
Service Employees International Union is a labor union representing about 1.8 million workers in over 100 occupations in the United States , and Canada...
, from 1940 to 1960.
Early life and union career
McFetridge was born in Chicago, Illinois, to William F. and Wilhelmina (Quesse) McFetridge. He had a younger sister named Dorothy. He attended public school until he was 13 years old, when he quit to became an office boy and then clerk for the Milwaukee RoadChicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
The Milwaukee Road, officially the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad , was a Class I railroad that operated in the Midwest and Northwest of the United States from 1847 until its merger into the Soo Line Railroad on January 1, 1986. The company went through several official names...
railway line. McFetridge was a nephew of William Quesse
William Quesse
William Fred Quesse was an American labor leader and president of the Building Service Employees International Union, the precursor of the Service Employees International Union, from 1921 to 1927. He was the union's founding president.-Early life:His parents were Christ and Shirley Quesse, and he...
, the BSEIU's founding president. In time, attending night classes, he graduated from high school and earned a law degree.
As a young man, McFetridge was hired by his uncle as an investigator with the Flat Janitors Local 1 in Chicago. He was elected local president in 1923, and in 1927 was elected Third Vice President of BSEIU. He rose to First Vice President in 1930.
When BSEIU president Jerry Horan
Jerry Horan
Jeremiah J. Horan was an organized crime figure and President of the Building Service Employees International Union from 1927 until his death in 1937...
died in April 1937, McFetridge was the most senior local union president and widely considered a front-runner for the presidency. But Thomas Burke, another Chicago local union president, had the backing of the Chicago mob
Chicago Outfit
The Chicago Outfit, also known as the Chicago Syndicate or Chicago Mob and sometimes shortened to simply the Outfit, is a crime syndicate based in Chicago, Illinois, USA...
. McFetridge's candidacy threatened to split the union, as several BSEIU board members were aware of Burke's extensive and close ties to organized crime
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
. George Scalise, president of a small BSEIU local of window washers in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and the international's representative on the East Coast
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
, emerged as a compromise candidate. Scalise's mob ties were strong but not as public, and he had the backing of New York City mobster Anthony Carfano
Anthony Carfano
Anthony Carfano , also known as "Little Augie Pisano", was a New York gangster who became a caporegime, or group leader, in the Luciano crime family under mob bosses Charles "Lucky" Luciano and Frank Costello....
. Hesitant BSEIU executive board members elected Scalise after being intimidated and coerced by members of the Nitti gang
Frank Nitti
Francesco Raffaele Nitto , also known as Frank "The Enforcer" Nitti, was an Italian American gangster. One of Al Capone's top henchmen, Nitti was in charge of all strong-arm and 'muscle' operations...
.
BSEIU presidency
McFetridge was elected president of the international union in 1940 after Scalise was indicted and convicted of bribery, embezzlement and labor racketeering.Once president, McFetridge instituted modern financial and record-keeping practices at the international union's headquarters. He also undertook a large-scale organizing program, expanding out of the union's traditional base in apartments and office buildings and into airports, nuclear power plants, hospitals, and schools. He created research, legislative affairs, and legal departments, and began publishing a union-wide newsletter. During his tenure, the BSEIU grew from 70,000 members to 275,000 members.
A long-time Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, McFetridge became a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
in 1948 and supported Thomas E. Dewey's run for the presidency
United States presidential election, 1948
The United States presidential election of 1948 is considered by most historians as the greatest election upset in American history. Virtually every prediction indicated that incumbent President Harry S. Truman would be defeated by Republican Thomas E. Dewey. Truman won, overcoming a three-way...
. He later supported Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
for president in 1952
United States presidential election, 1952
The United States presidential election of 1952 took place in an era when Cold War tension between the United States and the Soviet Union was escalating rapidly. In the United States Senate, Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin had become a national figure after chairing congressional...
. Nevertheless, McFetridge was a very close friend of Chicago mayor Richard J. Daley
Richard J. Daley
Richard Joseph Daley served for 21 years as the mayor and undisputed Democratic boss of Chicago and is considered by historians to be the "last of the big city bosses." He played a major role in the history of the Democratic Party, especially with his support of John F...
, and nominated him for mayor in 1954. McFetridge became one of the most important behind-the-scenes players in Chicago under Daley.
In 1950, McFetridge was elected a vice-president of the American Federation of Labor
American Federation of Labor
The American Federation of Labor was one of the first federations of labor unions in the United States. It was founded in 1886 by an alliance of craft unions disaffected from the Knights of Labor, a national labor association. Samuel Gompers was elected president of the Federation at its...
(AFL). After the AFL and the Congress of Industrial Organizations
Congress of Industrial Organizations
The Congress of Industrial Organizations, or CIO, proposed by John L. Lewis in 1932, was a federation of unions that organized workers in industrial unions in the United States and Canada from 1935 to 1955. The Taft-Hartley Act of 1947 required union leaders to swear that they were not...
merged in 1955, McFetridge was elected a vice-president of the AFL-CIO
AFL-CIO
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL–CIO, is a national trade union center, the largest federation of unions in the United States, made up of 56 national and international unions, together representing more than 11 million workers...
. Although a close ally of Teamsters
Teamsters
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters is a labor union in the United States and Canada. Formed in 1903 by the merger of several local and regional locals of teamsters, the union now represents a diverse membership of blue-collar and professional workers in both the public and private sectors....
president Dave Beck
Dave Beck
Dave Beck was an American labor leader, and president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters from 1952 to 1957...
, he was also a strong advocate of strict financial practices and worked to cleanse AFL-CIO unions of labor racketeering.
Retirement and death
McFetridge retired as president of BSEIU in 1960, and was succeeded by David SullivanDavid Sullivan (labor leader)
David Sullivan was an American labor leader and president of the Building Service Employees International Union , the precursor to the Service Employees International Union, from 1960 to 1971.-Early life:...
. He returned to Local 1 and was elected the union's president. He continued to assert effective control over BSEIU from Local 1, however. He engaged in a long-running and vicious jurisdictional dispute with George Fairchild, president of BSEIU Local 4. McFetridge was a strong advocate of the Marina City
Marina City
Marina City is a mixed-use residential/commercial building complex occupying an entire city block on State Street in Chicago, Illinois. It lies on the north bank of the Chicago River in downtown Chicago, directly across from the Loop district...
mixed-use development in Chicago, which he believed would provide numerous jobs for Local 1 members. McFetridge asked that BSEIU invest pension funds in the development, a plan which Fairchild and Sullivan opposed. Although he successfully won BSEIU backing for the Marina City development, McFetridge lost control of BSEIU to Sullivan. He retired as Local 1 president shortly thereafter. He maintained his position on the AFL-CIO Executive Council until 1965.
McFetridge died on March 15, 1969, at Michael Reese Hospital
Michael Reese Hospital
Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center was an American hospital founded in 1881. In its heyday, it was a major research and teaching hospital and one of the oldest and largest hospitals in Chicago, Illinois. It was located on the near south side of Chicago, next to Lake Shore Drive Michael...
in Chicago.
Chicago recognition
- A short lakefront street in Chicago is named William E. McFetridge Drive.http://www.chsmedia.org/househistory/nameChanges/start.pdf It separates the Museum Campus from Soldier FieldSoldier FieldSoldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...
, and the latter's street address was once 465 E. McFetridge (it is now 1 S. Museum Dr.http://www.soldierfield.net/contact.aspx).
- The Chicago Park DistrictChicago Park DistrictThe Chicago Park District is the oldest and largest park district in the U.S.A, with a $385 million annual budget. It has the distinction of spending the most per capita on its parks, even more than Boston in terms of park expenses per capita...
, of which McFetridge was president in 1968 and vice president from 1946 to 1968, is named McFetridge Sports Complex for him http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/parks.detail/object_id/A5F32F28-6296-4001-9F78-A724DEEFAC03.cfm. Also known as McFetridge Ice Arena, it is the home rink for the DePaul UniversityDePaul UniversityDePaul University is a private institution of higher education and research in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th century French priest Saint Vincent de Paul...
ice hockey team.